Magic City

Yehoshua Bar-Yosef

Covering the demise of a dynasty over three generations, this epic novel is set in turn-of-the-century Safed, the Galilean town of Kabbalah and Hassidism. The surge towards nationalism and industrialization, and the disintegration of Safed's traditional religious society are faithfully depicted. "Bar-Yosef is the only Hebrew author who has given expression.... to the internal conflicts of society," wrote literary scholar Gershon Shaked. "The tension of society in decline, of the breakdown of religious faith, is beautifully portrayed."